A school in Bristol for young parents is facing closure as a result of its success.

The Meriton, a specialist school in St Philips, has provided education for young parents and teenage girls while caring for their children in the nearby nursery.

But the school – which has seen thousands come through its doors in nearly 40 years – is now facing small pupil numbers and a lack of funding.

It is one of a handful of schools in the South West which provides specialist education and care for young parents and the school has consistently been praised as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted since it was inspected in 1998. But the council said it now needs to “consider the options” and insists no decisions have yet been made.

A petition with more than 650 signatures has been created by former pupils in a bid to save it from closure.

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They wrote: “As all the girls in the Meriton know well, we couldn't have been so successful without the hard work of this place. The Meriton provides education, support, and a lifeline to mothers aged 13-19 in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

Thousands of girls have come through its doors

“Childcare is one of the largest barriers to young mothers continuing their education. The Meriton combats this with a nursery on site, enabling the young women to continue their education as soon as six weeks post birth.”

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They called the school a “beacon of sexual education”, which has helped to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies every year in Bristol. But it is that achievement that could see it close, with the funding for the school based on the number of pupils attending.

No provision is granted by the Government for its Post-16 provision, and the students say there is no other provision of this sort anywhere close to Bristol.

They added: “These girls need an education, a place where they are safe and valued, so that they can rise to their fullest potential, and become the amazing women and role models to their children that they were always born to be.”

Claire Hiscott, cabinet member for Education and Skills at Bristol City Council, said: “We are proud of the work and impact The Meriton has provided over the years to young mothers in Bristol and surrounding areas.